Biology

Physiology

Despite being bulky, Dragonite are incredibly agile and fast. Unlike their pre-evolutions, they are orange and possess arms and legs, all of which are equipped with three claws. Dragonite is considerably shorter than Dragonair, having lost its serpentine form. However, it retains the horn on its forehead that it possessed as a Dragonair, although it is now colored orange like most of Dragonite's body. They resemble bipedal European dragons, and each one has a pair of little green-colored wings that can increase in size while flying. They have a taller stature than most humans. Dragonite also possess S-shaped yellow antennae and a cream-colored, striated underbelly.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Dragonite are very strong, very fast Pokémon. When they become particularly angry, they may go on a rampage, and will be unable to control their aggression for some time. They are also able to use many elemental attacks such as Thunder, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Water Pulse, and the elemental punches. Dragonite flies at a speed unmatched and often, at a high enough altitude, have been known to break sound barriers. The speed of their flight is so immense they are able to circle the globe in sixteen hours, traveling roughly 1,556 mph, or about three times the speed of an average airplane. Dragonite have also been known to be resilient to a fault, despite it's general gentle nature, and will relentless assail its opponent even when wounded.

Behavior

Dragonite have a kindhearted disposition and are said to have human-like intelligence. They have been said to save people from drowning and lead ships that have been trapped in storms to safety. If angered, however, they are capable of going on uncontrollable, destructive rampages with devastating results. During these times they should not be approached until tired out.

Habitat

Dragonite are very rare in the wild. People have claimed that there is an island somewhere that only Dragonite inhabit. There are also some rare reports of Dragonite inhabiting the waters outside Dragonspiral Tower.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

A wild Dragonite first appears in What a Dragonite, where Red searches for an HM03, containing the move Surf, knowing that his rival Blue had obtained it already. After a tough fight during which it showed great resilience taking Pika's electric attacks to no effect, and withstanding a Double-Edge from Snor, it was eventually beaten when Misty arrived with her Gyarados, Gyara. Gyara then was traded for Red's Krabby, as Dragonite destroyed the HM and it was the only Pokémon which knew the move.

Two years later, Lance, leader of the Elite Four, is shown to have an even stronger Dragonite, one whose hide is so thick that it was able to stay in a vat of molten lava for an extended period of time, and none of Yellow's weak attacks had any effect. It was very devoted to Lance's cause of exterminating the human race in order to provide good habitats for Pokémon.

Name origin

Dragonite may be a combination of dragon and knight, ignite (since it learns several Fire-type moves), or night. It could also refer to draconite, a mythical stone said to be found in the heads of dragons and are pyramidal in shape (similar to Dragonite's horn).